Reducing Vaping Harms in Young People Hackathon 2025
Equity Bursary Reflections
In November, 2025 at the University of Technology, School of Public Health of Public Health 85 students from 17 universities worked in diverse teams, guided by 20+ mentors and judges including Indigenous leaders, academics, and community organisations. Together, they went from problem to prototype using design thinking and systems approaches.
Nine students were awarded equity bursaries to attend participate in this innovative events. These were made possible by the Cancer Institute NSW.
Why it matters:
- Health challenges are complex, and solving them takes more than good ideas. It takes innovation skills, entrepreneurship, and the confidence to turn evidence into action.
- When we invest in students’ ability to innovate, we’re not just training practitioners – we’re developing leaders who can create real change in public health.
Thank you to our sponsors Cancer Institute NSW for enabling diverse participation in this innovative event and investing in future public health leaders.
Bursary Awardees share their Hackathon reflections and highlights:
“The biggest lesson I learned was how quickly an idea can evolve when you combine research, lived experience, and strong teamwork. Keep your message simple, meaningful, and culturally safe.“
Advik Rastogi
Advik’s Highlight: working closely with his team to transform a complex public health issue into a culturally grounded concept and witnessing how quickly ideas could evolve through collaboration, mentor feedback, and shared cultural understanding.
“The hackathon taught me that failure is part of the creative process. Each pivot, each round of feedback made our ideas stronger. I learned to share boldly, iterate openly, and trust that collaboration leads to better solutions“
Agnes Romauli
Agnes’ Highlight: collaborating with a diverse, passionate team and seeing how repeated feedback and creative problem-solving strengthened their project.
“The hackathon taught me that when you give your best, you grow in ways you don’t expect. It pushed me to connect with others, step outside my comfort zone, and discover new strengths in myself“
Bugi Ebuzoeme
Bugi’s Highlight: the opportunity to learn new skills, step outside her comfort zone, and connect with peers while refining her approach to public health initiatives. The experience strengthened her ability to iterate, communicate, and apply design thinking in real-world contexts.
“Opportunities like this are golden; they help you grow, get involved, and get noticed in the workforce.”
Kevin Tong
Kevin’s Highlight: the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers and was impressed by the high-quality work produced not only by his own team but by all participating teams.
“The hackathon taught me to think creatively while staying grounded in evidence and community voices. The most valuable part was learning through the process and seeing our ideas grow through collaboration.”
Andrew Japri
Andrew’s Highlight: the value of rapid iteration, mentor guidance, and inclusive collaboration with a hands-on opportunity to learn how to design and communicate impactful public health policies under time pressure.
“The hackathon showed me that growth happens when you stay curious and share your ideas, even when they’re rough. The feedback and insights from other teams helped shape our thinking in ways we couldn’t have done alone.”
Kurnia Wijiastuti
Kurnia’s Highlight: the value in observing other teams, sharing ideas openly, and integrating external perspectives to strengthen her project.
“One thing the Hackathon really taught me is that meaningful innovation doesn’t start with building; it starts with listening. Staying open-minded, grounded in people’s real stories, and willing to shift direction made our ideas stronger.”
Lulu Chen
Lulu’s Highlight: valuable experience in human-centred design, involving real users in solution development, and communicating complex public health ideas clearly to diverse audiences.
“I learned that the messy, fast-paced moments of a hackathon are where real growth happens. Being open, sharing ideas, and working closely with others showed me how collaboration shapes stronger, more thoughtful solutions.”
Tazmin March
Tazmin’s Highlight: the intense, dynamic nature of the event allowed for growth not just in public health knowledge, but in understanding how diverse perspectives can shape practical and meaningful solutions.
“The hackathon taught me to think beyond academic frameworks and focus on practical solutions. I gained a clearer understanding of how policy works in the real world, and learned how collaboration under pressure sharpens communication and problem-solving skills.”
Xiao Li
Xiao’s Highlight: the opportunity to meet peers from different universities, hear insights from experts, and collaborate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.